Big brother watching you/us

LONDON: The government has planned to carry out covert surveillance on British citizens using unmanned spy planes, a move that could spark an outcry by human rights activists worried that it could be employed against innocent civilians.

Britain's defence ministry is working with BAE Systems to make UAVs that could get clear images of the ground even when flying at up to 50,000 feet.

An MP's report said the MoD is closely involved with the development of procedures and regulations which allow UAVs to operate in national and Nato airspace. The plan has worried civil liberties groups who say that they could be used to spy on innocent civilians.

If approved, UAVs could also be used for anti-terror surveillance, crowd control and intelligence services.